A NORTHSIDE mother of two special needs children has told of her shock and worry for 2013 after losing more than
?¬1,700 a year as a result of last month’s devastating budget.
Antoinette Norris, from Finglas, cares for her autistic son Adam (6) and her 15-year-old daughter Demi, who is non-verbal and has suspected Cohen’s Syndrome.
She is assisted by her other daughter, Amanda, and son Sam, both of whom were presented with a Young Carers of the Year Award last May.
Ms Norris said she had braced herself for a harsh budget but never imagined that she would be hit from all angles, particularly the reduction in the respite grant she so heavily depends on.
“We are living from hand to mouth as it is and just managing to stay afloat,
? she told Northside People.
“I’ve never used the respite grant for a break. It’s used to pay bills or maybe to treat my kids who do so much to help and care for Adam and Demi throughout the year.
“The money for this year 2012 is already spent.
“The politicians making these decisions in the Dáil have no idea of the expense and reality of having a child with special needs. It’s a battle every year to make ends meet with the limited financial support I get.
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She added:
“The Government keep saying they are protecting the most vulnerable but they’re targeting them instead.
?
Antoinette’s child benefit has been cut by
?¬58 a month, amounting to a reduction of
?¬696 a year. Her telephone and electricity allowance has been cut by
?¬196 a year, her back to school allowance by e200 and respite for carers by
?¬650 for her two special needs children.
The devastating toll of these cuts alone amounts to
?¬1,742 a year- and that’s before the prescription charge increase of 50 cents to
?¬1.50 for medical card holders is taken into account.
The single mother said she can’t imagine how she can reduce the family’s outgoings any further.
“I don’t drink and I don’t go out,
? she explained.
“Every cent we get is needed. We got a donation through the
‘Secret Millionaire’ this year and that money was spent on putting up a partition in the sitting room so that my son Sam could have his own room rather than just a little corner of it.
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According to Antoinette it’s a sad day when carers, who save the State millions each year, have to beg the Government to reinstate a grant that the vast majority use just to get by.
“The word respite is misleading because it isn’t used so that we go on holiday or have a break,
? she said.
“It’s used on all the other expenses that come with having children with special needs. For instance, Adam who has Autism breaks things in the house that need to be replaced. Demi was given an iPad to communicate, which thankfully we got for free, but it cost e500 to download the app so she could use it.
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Antoinette previously told Northside People how her daughter Demi has a tendency to raid the food stocks in the house.
“For example, last night she opened five cheese-strings, a full carton of yoghurt and mixed them into a full sliced pan,
? she said.
“That’s all food that was to be used for lunches but then needed to be re-bought.
“Another day she got up before me and went into the kitchen where she threw the contents of two bags of cereal, 24 eggs and milk onto the floor.
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Reacting to last month’s budget, the Carers’ Association of Ireland said it was
“extremely disappointed
? with the 19 per cent cut in the respite grant paid to over 77,000 family carers.
“Twenty-thousand of these carers receive no other support from the State for providing full-time care for a family member from their own resources,
? a statement read.
“Despite working seven days a week, 365 days a year, carers are entitled to no holidays and no breaks. This grant goes some way towards allowing this. Other carers use the grant to pay bills.
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